The ballrooms of the Union have been swarming with people gathered for the fight on social injustice. Panels and workshops are engaging people make a difference in all entities that experience social injustice. Thursday focused on LBGT in justice, and oppression. Friday is slated to have more events concentrated in oppression.
The Shepard Symposium on Social Justice (SSSJ) has brought in about 40 presentations for the three-day event to engage the UW community in discussion about social injustice, said Steering Committee Member Brody Tate.
Many of these presenters and panel participants come from different parts of the nation and different parts of the state.
A panel took place Thursday focusing on the Matthew Shepard attack in 1998 and what has been done in the world of LGBT injustice and hate crimes since.
“I would like it if everyone would wake up and be kind,” said Executive Director of the Shepard Foundation Jason Marzden. “It costs nothing.”
The film “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” had its Laramie premier Thursday night and was a spotlight event for the symposium. Several people involved with the making of the film comprised a panel that included the director of the film that was Matthew Shepard’s high school friend.
“I hope this inspires all of us to treasure each other and be kind,” said the film director, Michele Josue. “A little love and kindness can go anywhere.”
The purpose of the film was to make Shepard human and to let people know “the person behind the headlines.”
Beyond making the film about Shepard, Josue wanted to provoke others to take action against hate crimes.
“If this can happen to Matt this can happen to my sister, my brother, my dad or my friend,” said Josue, “and it can happen to anyone you know. “
Police Chief at the time of the incident, Dave O’Malley, sat on the panel to answer questions along with undersheriff at the time Rob DePree. Both confessed of having the Shepard case changing their views on homosexuality.
“On Oct. 6, 1998 I was saying ‘faggot’ as easily as I was telling my kids ‘I love you,’” said O’Malley. “On Oct. 7, my ignorance began to go away.”
O’Malley said he was excluding a great group of people. He said today he wishes that no children would be raised in a situation to dislike others because others are not like them.
Another panelist was the pastor who officiated Shepard’s funeral. Since the attack, Father Roger Schmit preaches about homosexuality.
“There was something inside me that would not let me speak out about what was inflicted on out brothers and sisters that were gay,” said Schmit.
Today he openly speaks about it and believes that heterosexuals and homosexuals should be proud of their sexuality equally.
The panel all agreed that others need to change their perspective on people that are no the same as them.
“I’m going to hold my badge as long as I can and I am going to stand up for people,” said Depree. He said he hope others can do the same.
“We can have the (problem) wrapped up by the end of the weekend if everyone would just wake up an be kind,” said Marzden
The symposium Thursday also featured anti-bullying efforts happening across the country and in Laramie. Jake Stallman and his mother, Tania McAtee, came to UW from Tipton, Iowa to share their struggle with bullying in a small town stemming from Stallman being gay.
Stallman said he experienced being physically and verbally bullied to the point of almost attempting suicide. Because of kindness from a close friend, he did not attempt to kill himself and turned around to start inspiring others. His mother also started an anti-bullying group that has now engrossed several members of their small town. The two have been featured on several different national TV news shows. Stallman was the 2013 recipient of the Spirit of Matthew award form the Matthew Shepard Foundation.
In 2002, the annual event took the name of Shepard Symposium on Social Justice (SSSJ), when a private donor asked the name to be changed. The symposium first began in 1997 when two College of Education faculty, Omawale Akintunde and Margaret Cooney, kick started the event, said Steering Committee Member Tanaya Moon Morris. It was focused on social justice and still is today and has continued to focus on all entities that experience injustice thanks to good leadership, said Moon Morris.
